Steam-packing



(No Model.)

W. A. FRIES.

STEAM PACKING. No. 269,517. Patented De0.26,1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM A. FRIES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,517, dated December 26, 1882.

Application filed August 17, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. FRIES, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Steam-Packing; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 is a broken elevation of a packingcore constructed in accordance-with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

My invention has relation to flexible packing or cores for stuffing-boxes of engine-cylinders and other devices; and it has for its object to provide a core or packing which maintains itself in close impingement against the piston-rod and the walls or sides of the studing-box, which possesses great durability,

which resists in a marked degree the action of heat, fire, or live steam, and which is readily and cheaply manufactured.

Flexible packing, as heretofore and at present made, is so constructed and composed of such ingredients that the packing, when in use, soon becomes soft and dead, settles or falls away from the piston-rod and thesides of the stufiing-box, and permits'the steam to escape therethrough, thereby necessitating frequent adjustment of the lid of the stufling-box to take up the slack in the packing-core, and the latter is soon worn away and becomes unfit for use. My invention avoids such disadvantages by so constructing the packing or core that it possesses great inherent elasticity; or, in other words, I make a springy or approximately springy' core without in any manner destroying the flexibility of the same.

My invention accordingly consists of apackin g composed of cork, asbestus, and dissolved gum, and is made of any suitable or desired shape in cross-section. The cork gives to the a packing or core a certain amount of elasticity or resiliency, which prevents the same from becoming dead. The asbestos resists the deteriorating action of heat or fire or live steam (N0 model.)

The mode of manufacturing the packing or coreis substantially as follows: I first take granulated cork, or cork in the form of thin shavings, asbestus fiber, and dissolved gum, and mix them well together until the cork and asbestus particles adhere to each other after they have been kneaded or worked until a consistent mass is formed. Such prod uctis then placed in a receptacle of any desired or convenient size, having a round, square, or other configured spout or tube projecting from its bottom, or from its side near the bottom. When the receptacle is filled the material is forced out thereof through said spout or tube by means of a piston fitting into such vessel and operated by a com mon lever, cord, rack, or any other desired or suitable mechanism. Suchmaterial comes out of the spout or tube in a continuous round or square piece or strip. depending upon the outline of said spout or tube. The core so formed is dried, and may be covered with a layer of muslin, linen, or duck, as shown at c, Fig. 1, B representing the cork granulations and A the asbestus fiber; or said packing or core. may have a braided covering of hemp, asbestus, or other material. Any desired or suitable gum may be used, and the proportions of the ingredients of the packing may be varied as desired or as will be suggested to a skilled and expert workman.

Such packing is not only easily and cheaply made, but is also extremely durable, as the asbestos prevents the hot steam, fire, or heat acting thereon to soften or destroy it, while the cork renders the same springy or elastic, so that it is always in due condition to bear hard against the piston-rod and the sides of the stuffiug or other box in which it may be placed to form a tight joint therewith. At the same time the packing or core possesses the element of flexibility to the same or substantially the same degree as that of ordinary packmg.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A packingor core composed ot'granulated strips or shavings of, cork, asbestus and dis In testimony that I claim the above I have solved gum, substantially as shown and dehereunto'subscribed my name in the presence 10 scribed.

2. A paokingor core composed of granulated strips or shavings of cork, asbestus, and dissolved gum covered with a layer of asbestos, linen, or other suitable material, substantially as shown and described. I

' of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. FRIES.

Witnesses:

JOHN RODGERS, GEORGE W. SELTZER. 

